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'Green steel': Swedish company ships first batch made without using coal:
The world's first customer delivery of "green steel" produced without using coal is taking place in Sweden, according to its manufacturer.
The Swedish venture Hybrit said it was delivering the steel to truck-maker Volvo AB as a trial run before full commercial production in 2026. Volvo has said it will start production in 2021 of prototype vehicles and components from the green steel.
Steel production using coal accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Hybrit started test operations at its pilot plant for green free steel in Lulea, northern Sweden, a year ago. It aims to replace coking coal, traditionally needed for ore-based steel making, with renewable electricity and hydrogen. Hydrogen is a key part of the EU's plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 20 2021, @03:18PM
The smelting process is mostly about removing non-iron contaminants from the ore. Various substances are added and reacted with the ore, which creates by-products that are then separated out of the ore, leaving it closer to pure iron than it was to begin with.
Depending on the composition of the ore, different processes are used to remove different contaminants. Coke is added to ore to react with oxygen and create carbon dioxide, which gasses off.